DFES proposes higher Emergency Services Levy for Yanchep

PROPERTY owners across Yanchep and part of Two Rocks could face an increase in their Emergency Services Levy of about $60 next year.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services recently reviewed boundaries for the levy, and proposed changing Yanchep from category four to three.

Wanneroo Council considered a report on proposed changes to Yanchep, Alkimos Vista estate and a Water Corporation site in Jandabup in October, and raised no objection to it.

The council report said the 2018-19 levy for category four residential properties was $150 compared to $214 for category three.

The Alkimos development will see the levy increase from category three to one, which cost $430 this year.

Properties north of Blaxland Avenue in Two Rocks will remain in category four.

DFES acting corporate services executive director Richard Burnell said the proposed changes, if declared, would take effect from July 1, 2019.

“The proposed changes reflect that the Metropolitan Fire District will be expanded to include parts of Alkimos and Jandabup,” he said.

“This means that these areas are protected by a network of career fire and rescue service stations with fulltime firefighters, and metropolitan SES units.

“This would reclassify those areas from ESL category three to ESL category one, which is the same category as much of the metropolitan area.

“It is also proposed to reclassify parts of Yanchep/Two Rocks from ESL category four to ESL category three.

“These properties would be in the proximity of the new Metropolitan Fire District and are protected by a range of volunteer emergency services, with the support of career fire and rescue service stations.”

The council report said category one included areas service by career fire brigades, while the primary responses in category three came from volunteer brigades with support from career firefighters.

Volunteer brigades service category four areas.

Funds collected through the levy support fire and emergency services, including career, volunteer and bush fire brigades, as well as SES units, volunteer marine rescue groups and aerial services used by DFES during emergencies. Read more here.